Reviewed by Benjamin Ookami for Readers' Favorite

Leftover Girl is the first installment in the Leftover Girl series by C.C. Bolick. Somebody has found out about fifteen-year-old Jessica Delaney, the adopted daughter of Justin and Lorraine Delaney. As a result, the Delaney family have to leave an Atlanta trailer park behind and go to Credence, Lorraine’s hometown. At a party, Jes ends up kissing Pade, the son of her adopted mother’s sister. A relationship with him can be tricky since they are part of the same family. Like Jes, the son of an exacting new English teacher is also a newcomer. His name is Chase and Jes quickly becomes friends with him. He also has blue eyes like her. They might have more in common than Jes could ever imagine. What’s more, Chase is from another planet.

High school is a slippery world where the word “cool” means more to teenagers than it does to adults and it's no different in this book. What I liked about this book is that the author made me feel like I was back in high school again with all of its accompaniments. Jes is an interesting character because she has a past that she cannot remember and her adopted parents try their best to protect her from it. For the first half of the book, readers are pretty much reading a realistic young adult romance novel; when Chase reveals his secret, the pages start turning themselves. The author doesn’t rely heavily on the elements of science fiction, but skillfully plays around with it so that her characters can truly shine.

Reviewed by A. L. Peevey for Readers' Favorite

In R.D. Crist’s Scarlet Reign: Malice of the Dark Witch, we are introduced to fourteen-year-old Natalie who is sitting by her mother’s deathbed. Taking possession of her mother’s beloved ring, Natalie is whisked away by Ava, a stranger claiming to be a long-lost relative. Together, they flee a sinister enemy, heading for the refuge of a girls-only orphanage that houses an order of witches. With Ava’s encouragement and due to the perilous circumstances she finds herself in, Natalie struggles to discover her previously unknown roots in magical ability, to master her self-doubt, and to accept her destiny. When an evil force bent on revenge attacks the orphanage, will Natalie and her demanding mentors and her new friends be able to defend themselves?

R.D. Crist’s Scarlet Reign: Malice of the Dark Witch plunges us into a world that is familiar with its cities, planes, and trains yet fantastical, a place of magic, both benevolent and malicious. Natalie’s battle to control her emotions and develop her own intuition ring true given her age. Several passages recount her being given counsel and comfort as she fights to balance her often overwhelming emotions with cool calculation, typically a skill developed with time and experience. Crist also gives readers a hierarchy of magical practitioners both familiar and unique, yet always credible and true to the world Crist has created. The characters are flawed and therefore very human, despite their magical abilities. Scarlet Reign is fun without being too preachy about teen angst. I particularly enjoyed the final battle. This book shows us personal growth, forgiveness, loss, and redemption while being a thoughtfully enjoyable read. All in all, a good story.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Triplicity by J. Mercer is a young adult mystery story. One Alaskan cruise and three teenagers thrown together by circumstance. A number of thefts happen on the cruise ship and all three are under suspicion. Navy is very prim and proper but she does have someone else’s purse. Jesse knows more than he should and Isiah has the motive. Each one of them has a piece of the puzzle but the lies they told will trip them up. Each has their own reason for keeping quiet but there may be a better reason not to. Do they band together and find the real thief or do they go their own separate ways? Is it worth the exposure of their deepest and darkest secrets?

Triplicity by J Mercer was an excellent story. It takes a bit of getting used to at first as each chapter is told from a different point of view – by one of the three main characters – but it was one of those books I couldn’t put down. Each character had a story to tell and that story was brought out gradually. The three main protagonists were developed very well, three very likable and fun people that a reader can easily relate to. This was a combination of a mystery story, with a little romance thrown in for good measure, and a kind of coming of age story. Right from page one, I was drawn into their lives and those of the people they originally traveled with, people that lent a great deal to the story and provided depth. With a well-paced plot and plenty of action, this was a fun, light-hearted read; I would love to read more about these characters. Fully recommended for readers of all ages, not just the younger ones.

Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

The Language Thieves is a young adult fantasy by Marc Remus. Sixteen-year-old Daniel is none too happy about his father’s decision to move the family from Arizona to a remote Scottish island, of all places. His mother was stricken by a mysterious illness that has rendered her incapable of communication. Daniel speaks English and Irish Gaelic although he isn’t too keen on overtly displaying his Irish roots. Once on the island, he meets two new friends, Jenny and Connor, who are as suspicious as he is about a strange, elusive tribe that inhabits a part of the island: the Cerebrals, with their own unique culture, obsession with language, and their worship of the brain. The Cerebrals keep themselves apart from the rest of the population, and don’t want their kids to have anything to do with the locals. A bit difficult when Daniel finds himself falling for the cute Emily, who just happens to be a Cerebral. What is the mystery behind the Cerebrals, and do they have anything to do with Daniel’s mom’s affliction? How can they possibly be dangerous?

This is a young adult fantasy that is quite different from the norm. The plot dives back into ancient history and draws together some very intriguing theories. Young adult fans of Atlantis and ancient civilizations will devour this story. The plot is full of twists and turns and although I am not usually surprised, this book made me sit up. The action starts right away, aboard the ferry en route the island, when a young teen (Connor) is attacked by strange men. The pace is steady and escalates as the youngsters team up to resolve the mystery behind the Cerebrals, their mission, and how it will affect the whole world. Daniel is the most well developed of the trio, but Jenny is a solid sidekick gifted with IT skills and Connor is close behind as the loyal friend willing to follow first and ask questions later. The teens sound and behave mostly as one would expect teens to do and this adds realism to the plot. The romance between Daniel and Emily is sweet but underplayed so that it does not overshadow the main plot.

The intrigue and mystery behind what the kids discover will certainly have young readers doing their own investigations into history, culture, and the value and place of ancient languages in society. I liked this thought-provoking angle – just how many ancient languages are still spoken today, and how many have been lost in the last century? The descriptions of the Cerebrals and their culture, dress and architecture are unique and showcase the author’s incredible imagination. A great cover and good layout and editing add to one’s reading pleasure. Themes of friendship, loyalty, teamwork and family abound. This is an intriguing fantasy by Remus and perfect for the young adult market.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Evoke by Danielle Simmons is a coming-of-age story with strong psychological underpinnings, a story of loss and one woman’s struggle to come to grips with a painful tragedy. Set in the imaginary locale of Lake Haven, Maine, we follow five childhood friends who meet again when they come back home for summer. But then an accident claims the lives of three of these friends. Laney Thomas wakes up months later to the startling realization that she’s the only survivor in an accident in which three of her friends have lost their lives. She remembers nothing about the accident and the week leading up to the event. Evan, the only friend in the group who happened to be away during the accident, stays close to her. But can Evan — in spite of the bond they share — help her understand what happened? When Evan suddenly disappears without a word, Laney experiences the worst form of darkness. Can memories of her past guide her to the truth buried in the deep recesses of her heart?

Layer by grueling layer, Danielle Simmons leads readers into the depths of her characters. The narrative starts with a powerful premise — friends meeting after a long period of absence, then an accident that leaves one of them without any memory of what happened and a painful loss. I got utterly involved as I followed the protagonist, hoping against all hope that she found the tools she needed to get answers. The emotion is strong and it is enabled by the fine prose that captures emotions in detail. The plot structure is well designed, starting with questions and introducing a crisis that permeates every aspect of the narrative. Evoke is atmospheric, deeply moving, and emotionally intense. The protagonist left me with strong echoes of the protagonist in Before I Go to Sleep. An edge-of-your-seat kind of read!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Carlswick Deception: The Carlswick Mysteries, Book 4 is a young and new adult mystery novel written by S.L. Beaumont. While this is the fourth book in the series, the author provides enough background information to allow this novel to be read as a standalone story. Stephanie had her hands full with assignments that were due the next day, so much so that she had to turn down the chance to see her boyfriend, James, who would be leaving for Japan soon and had tickets for a concert that evening. She didn’t feel, however, that she could turn down a request for help from Detective Inspector Marks when he called. Marks had helped her in the past when she had gotten herself into some minor trouble, and he had also arranged for her to work at Scotland Yard the previous summer. He was sending one of his detectives, Luke Spencer, to Oxford to speak with the Head of English Literature in connection with the murder of a man who had planned to donate some rare books to the university. Marks was hoping that Stephanie would help Luke navigate the intricacies of the campus and university politics. As luck would have it, his relatively simple request ended up becoming rather more complicated.

S.L. Beaumont’s mystery novel for young and new adults, The Carlswick Deception: The Carlswick Mysteries, Book 4, is a fast-paced and highly entertaining mystery surrounding the thefts of priceless manuscripts and the accompanying escalating violence. I have not read the previous books in this series, but was pleased to find that I was immediately able to follow the mystery as well as to appreciate the interactions of the characters in Beaumont’s story. I have a fondness for British mysteries, especially those dealing with the theft of art, manuscripts or books, and was delighted with the caliber of this story, the finely-tuned plot and the engaging characters I became familiar with as I read on. I’m looking forward to reading more of Beaumont’s work in the future. The Carlswick Deception: The Carlswick Mysteries, Book 4 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

In The Noxhelm Murders by Dr. Bon Blossman, a mob-related incident put the O’Sullivan family into the Witness Protection Program and they were relocated from Boston to the misty town of Noxhelm. Seventeen-year-old Shana tries her best to adjust to the sudden change, particularly when her new home is the haunted Ripper House. Being a new kid in town is difficult as Shana has to face the teenage drama of the local youth and unwillingly learns more about the dark history of the infamous house she’s living in. Things get worse when Shana is accused of murdering a teen at a party.

The characters have enough depth, but the young protagonist Shana is not easily likable and it was difficult to root for her at first. She came across to me as a spoiled teen who refused to accept the situation that she and her parents had to deal with. That said, her reluctance was understandable; her good, easy life had just taken a different turn. The clear-cut prose creates tension at the right moments and the plot is well-structured, well-paced and has good twists. That said, some events are slightly implausible to me, such as Shana’s parents’ reaction to the news about their strange old neighbor, Tabatha Gill, wandering inside their house while they were out, including the fact that Shana’s mother herself had given an extra key to the old woman. Nevertheless, the story is engaging, and the supernatural, horror, mystery, as well as the crime elements in Blossman’s The Noxhelm Murders create a suspenseful novel that will satisfy its targeted readers.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Cedar Springs High students Zelda, Sabrina, Andrew, Gabby, and Justin are the ones everyone around them－peers, parents, and teachers－deem as lost causes, which rightly gives this YA mystery thriller its title. Two undercover FBI agents, Ryan Nash and Patricia Nichols, summoned them to a ‘group-therapy program’, where the teens drink a special serum that erases their problems and gives each of them a psychic ability. In return, they must track a killer who murdered one of their town residents.

Despite the premise of The Lost Causes by Jessica Etting and Alyssa Schwartz being slightly formulaic, it’s executed well through the well-paced plot. Characterization is the main strength of the story for me, where each of the characters and their relationships are given enough room to grow. It’s interesting how they adjust to their new abilities and working together to solve the murder case. It’s a play on irony; Justin Diaz, a football player with anger issues, has the ability of psychokinesis or moving physical objects using the mind, while OCD Gabby Dahl’s ability is retro-cognition, or triggering visions of the past by touching objects. I do relate more to the smart but gloomy Zelda or Z, who’s able to read people’s thoughts. Personally, I find Andrew Foreman, the hypochondriac turned genius, has the best deal out of it, but strangely proves his worth differently.

The narrative has a solid clarity and is engaging. There are good moments of humor, camaraderie, and suspense. The proposed mystery is intricate, thrilling and perplexing, making the story a page-turner. YA romance is expected, although I’m ambivalent about a certain romantic relationship between two characters. On the whole, The Lost Causes is surprisingly a gratifying read. Despite being a YA imprint, older readers can enjoy it as well.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Girl Who Saved Ghosts: The Unbelievables, Book 2 is a time-travel paranormal fantasy novel for young and new adults written by K.C. Tansley. Kat was way too familiar with ghosts popping up when she least expected them and asking for her help. She had been able to block them in the past, but things had changed; she was not the same girl she had been before the summer vacation. She had had plans for her senior year in prep school, the typical plans most teens have, but their summer adventure at Castle Creighton had left her totally adrift and not at all sure what kind of future she would actually get to have. Not only did she learn that she was able to travel back into the past and actually change things, but she became aware of the Langley family’s heritage. She hadn’t known much at all about her dad; he had left her and her mom years ago when Kat was an infant. Having him send her the Langley ring was strange enough. After years of his seeming neglect, she had simply tossed it in a drawer. Now, she understood a bit more about her ancestry. She was a green-eyed Langley, and the ring had chosen her to be the next Langley heir. The only problem was, Langley heirs don’t live very long at all, and something or someone called the Dark One was determined to destroy her.

K.C. Tansley’s time-travel paranormal fantasy novel for young and new adults, The Girl Who Saved Ghosts: The Unbelievables, Book 2, has monsters, ghosts and a legacy that binds four families together for generations to come. Tansley includes enough background information within the story to allow this book to be read on its own, but I’d strongly recommend starting with The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts, the first book in the series. The author has built up an original and compelling fantasy world in The Unbelievables series and starting with the second one will have readers losing out on the histories, interactions and complex personalities of her characters, as well as missing out on having a deeper understanding of the continuing story line. Tansley’s plot works quite well on a number of levels. There are definite elements of the sword and sorcery genre as well as touches of urban fantasy, coming of age and action and adventure genres. I especially enjoyed watching as Kat forms an enduring kinship with an earlier ancestor who becomes a mentor, friend and more. Tansley gives the reader a lot to think about in this decidedly different and very readable fantasy novel that deftly poses ethical questions and theories about the afterlife mixed in with all the action and suspense. The Girl Who Saved Ghosts: The Unbelievables, Book 2 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Coming-of-age, inspirational, and Christian romance are genres blended perfectly in a tale of mystery in Leslea Wahl’s debut novel, The Perfect Blindside. The reader is introduced to two gifted teenagers, Jake and Sophie. Jake is a snowboarder with an Olympic Silver Medal, proud and adored by many his age, but his parents move him to a little town in Colorado, a move that he doesn’t welcome. Then there is Sophia, the honors student with a passion for photography and journalism, a girl with her own level of fame. She is opinionated and highly critical, a girl who has followed Jake’s story very closely. The two teenagers are very keen on seeing things that are negative in each other, with jealousy and the desire to appear “better than you” getting in their way of accepting each other and working together. But when their town is threatened and Jake’s reputation is about to be sullied, they have to learn to look beyond appearances and what they think of each other, and work together in trust to unveil what lurks in the secret tunnels.

A beautiful story that is wonderfully told, The Perfect Blindside is a huge success on several counts. First, I was captivated by the narrative voice which is strong. The shifts in POV, alternating between Jake and Sophie, are good, forcing the reader to get into the emotional level of the story. The first person narrative voice is compelling and it makes this tale an engrossing one. The author explores great themes in this work, including family dynamics, faith, love and friendship, and the thin line that separates reality from appearances. Leslea Wahl’s characters are real, well-developed, and memorable. This is a story that will entertain and inspire fans of young adult literature. Jake and Sophie are two magnetic characters that young readers will root for.